Chief of Staff Bill Ward to Quit Corbett Administration

"Gov. Corbett's top staffer will soon be leaving, according to a high-level administration official who asked not to be identified."

"Bill Ward, Corbett's longtime friend, confidante and chief of staff, will resign his post for another job, the source said. Ward could not be reached for immediate comment this morning."

"Corbett's spokesman, Kevin Harley, declined to comment."

"It is not clear when Ward's last day will be or who will replace him. Several people familiar with internal discussions have said Corbett's general counsel, Stephen Aichele, is a leading contender."

"Ward's departure comes as the governor faces increasing pressure to address what some in top state Republican circles believe is a growing image problem. The Inquirer has reported that the governor's top political advisers, supporters and fund-raisers have been encouraging him to shake things up in his administration."

"Meanwhile, the Corbett administration is viewed as politically clumsy and aloof by many Republican lawmakers, and he angered conservatives when he leaned on the state party to endorse an unpopular candidate who lost badly in the crowded U.S. Senate primary."